Health | WLUK TV

Can Facebook organ donor success stick?

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:27:08 GMT

On the first day of the initiative, there were 13,012 new online donor registrations across 44 states, a 21.2-fold increase over the usual daily registration of 616. Over the next two weeks, the number of new donors each day declined, although levels still remained above normal.

Test may predict HPV throat cancer

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:03:06 GMT

Most people associate HPV with cervical cancer because virtually all of these cancers are caused by this virus. But HPV can also trigger oropharyngeal or throat cancer, especially in men.

Alternative healing or quackery?

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:54:40 GMT

Dr. Paul Offit says some alternative therapists promote "magical thinking". Nontraditional therapies can be valuable, but sometimes cross a line, he says.

Head lice don't take summer off

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:05:08 GMT

Head lice cases spike when school begins or after school breaks, but can spread at summer camp

'Pay to delay' deals can be illegal

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:14:48 GMT

Reverse payment settlements arise when generic companies file a challenge to brand-name drugs' 20-year patent monopoly. The generic drugmakers aim to prove the patent is flawed or otherwise invalid, so they can launch a generic version well before the patent ends.

Grow lab organs to ease shortage?

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:49:24 GMT

Two years ago, Angela Irizarry of Lewisburg, Pa., needed a crucial blood vessel. Researchers built her one in a laboratory, using cells from her own bone marrow.

Company recalls diet supplements

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 23:20:57 GMT

Sibutramine was a previously approved controlled substance for the treatment of obesity. It was removed from the U.S. market in October 2010 for safety reasons.

MERS deaths at 33; progress claimed

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 23:08:10 GMT

While cases are limited, MERS has killed more than half of its victims. Researchers have mapped the genetic characteristics of the virus.

A new (old) way to treat mental illness

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 20:26:01 GMT

Cognitive remediation can help mentally ill people develop order in their lives and problem-solve.

Brain blood clots rare, experts say

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 23:36:11 GMT

When a person is sedentary for long periods of time -- especially on a plane or in a car, where the legs are in the same position for hours -- the blood can start to clot.

BPA linked to obesity in young girls

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 23:25:16 GMT

When BPA acts like estrogen in young girls, it may accelerate the onset of puberty and cause weight gain – thus earning its “endocrine-disrupting” title.

Healthy Father's Day gadgets for dad

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:33:20 GMT

What he really wants is the high-tech stuff! And there are several gadgets that can actually make a difference in your father's health.

Heading a soccer ball bad for brain?

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 23:30:21 GMT

The theory is that the unfortunately-named 'subconcussive' hits - less-forceful hits that don't cause an overt concussion - when they accumulate over time, may prove to be more damaging than their more flamboyant cousins.

New weight-loss drug available

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 23:19:53 GMT

Belviq is intended "as an addition to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise."

5 things to know about carbon monoxide

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 23:07:03 GMT

Carbon monoxide alarms are useful but not substitutes for ensuring safety of appliances

Fungal growth in steroid injections

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 23:36:22 GMT

The steroid in question is preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate. Samples from two separate batches were found to have microbial growth in them, the FDA said.

Superglue stops baby's brain aneurysm

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 23:27:37 GMT

The standard treatment for brain aneurysms is to open the skull, but in a baby as young as Ashlyn, that wasn’t the preferred option.

10 ways to act like a champion

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 01:35:09 GMT

Triathlete Chrissie Wellington says true champions focus on the journey, not the finish line

Blood test may spot colon cancer

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 01:16:32 GMT

A blood test for colon cancer could be on the horizon. But the research is still preliminary and the test is not currently recommended as a screening tool.

6 tips for better sleep this summer

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 23:06:22 GMT

A proper rhythm is key to making sure you're not accruing sleep debt. By following certain guidelines, you'll be able to function at an optimal level during moments of business and pleasure.

No time? Try the 7-minute workout

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 22:54:06 GMT

High-intensity circuit training is growing in popularity because it's efficient

Some sick kids can still get vaccinated

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 23:18:34 GMT

More than a third of infants who were taken to the doctor for an acute ear infection, and who were also due for a scheduled immunization, were not immunized during their sick visit and didn't go back to the doctor for a subsequent well visit.

The link between saris and cholera

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 23:09:32 GMT

Rita Colwell has been studying cholera for half a century. Her team discovered an innovative way to control the disease in Bangladesh

Lawsuit filed in lung transplant case

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 20:21:52 GMT

The parents of a 10-year-old girl who urgently needs a lung transplant have filed a lawsuit asking a federal judge to change organ-donation rules for children.

Sebelius staying out of transplant case

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 00:54:52 GMT

10-year-old Sarah Murnaghan has been hospitalized with end-stage cystic fibrosis and is on a ventilator. Her family wants children younger than 12 to be eligible for adult lungs because so few pediatric lungs are available.

UK to help smokers cut down

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 23:26:49 GMT

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said people unable to give up cigarettes in a single attempt should switch to licensed nicotine products, including gum, sprays and patches to at least reduce how much they smoke

Obesity-diabetes study shows pros, cons

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 23:05:54 GMT

The yearlong study indicates that the most common weight-loss surgery, gastric bypass, can effectively treat diabetes in patients with mild to moderate obesity

Obama: End mental illness stigma

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 23:25:44 GMT

President Barack Obama said Monday that he wants to end the stigma of mental illness and enrolled the star power of actors Bradley Cooper and Glenn Close at a White House conference organized in response to the December shootings at a Connecticut elementary school.

Sunscreen can slow skin aging

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 23:09:41 GMT

The research found that even if a person is already middle-aged, it's not too late to start rubbing on some sunscreen — and not just at the beach or pool.

FDA weighs lifting Avandia restrictions

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 22:58:08 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration is reviewing a new interpretation of the key study of Avandia's heart attack risks, which suggests the drug is as safe as older diabetes drugs.